Cheltenham Festival: Bookies fear being battered by Ruby Walsh

Irish punters are saddling up to bet €120million in the next four days

Hurricane Fly ridden by Ruby Walsh on the way to winning the Stan James Champion Hurdle Mandatory Credit (Photo: Inpho)

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Ruby Walsh is the jockey bookies most fear as the Cheltenham Festival prepares for starters’ orders.

On the eve of the celebrated meeting at Prestbury Park, Irish punters are saddling up to bet €120million in the next four days.

But firms say Walsh, whose rides include odds-on favourites Champagne Fever, Hurricane Fly and Quevega on Tuesday, could ruin them on day one.

Ladbrokes’ Hayley O’Connor revealed: “If Ruby’s hand for Tuesday proves as strong as it looks, we’ll be under colossal pressure to claw it back for the remaining 3 days of the festival.

“We’re prepared for a few body blows, but we’re just hoping not to get knocked out.” But there will be few punters who will lose any sleep over that as thousands of turf fans make the annual pilgrimage to the Cotswolds.

Many have been saving up all year, while many more will have booked the week off work to park themselves in front of the TV or at their local.

This year promises to be more fiercely-contested than ever before as the stakes have never been higher with the introduction of the Prestbury Cup.

The trophy will be the first time the age-old English/Irish rivalry is formally recognised by rewarding the country that trains the most winners.

Irish hopes are high and we will be hoping to replicate last year’s stellar performance which saw us win 14 races.

Paddy Power spokesman Feilim MacAnIomaire revealed: “Cheltenham is one of the few events that attracts the interest of the casual punter and they, along with the purists, will keep us run off our feet for the week.

“The horses are without doubt the main attraction next week but with so much action happening away from the races why not offer a few extra specials while punters are in the mood.”

The famous Cheltenham crowd (Photo: Inpho)

The pre-Cheltenham hype has been building for months with owners, trainers, jockeys, bookies and punters all equally excited to be taking centre stage at the jewel in the crown of jump racing.

Ladbrokes is expecting race-goers from both sides of the Irish Sea to splurge a staggering €300million over the course of the next four days.

But they’re being cautious after last year’s devastating hammering at the hands of savvy punters who got off to a flier on day one and finished the week with a flourish.

Ms O’Connor told the Irish Mirror: “The festival is always the single biggest week of our year and the final day of the festival last year was a nightmare for the bookmakers.

“We took our fair share of punishment and Gold Cup Day last year will be forever remembered as Black Friday.

“Triumph Hurdle winner Our Conor and At Fishers Cross bloodied our noses before the big one, the Gold Cup, where Bobs Worth justified favouritism, with Salsify and Alderwood yet to come. It was the worst closing day to a festival many of us can remember.

“While punters possibly have fewer ‘bankers’ than 12 months ago, they’re never short on rockets at The Festival and blasted us bang on target on the closing day last year.

“It’s an epic week on the calendar where sparks will fly, but we’re ready for battle and the Cheltenham charge.”

Only Quevega really falls into ‘banker’ territory as an odds-on favourite this year – so cocky bookies have been bragging they’re a little less worried about potential nightmare scenarios.

But wary not to underestimate the luck of the Irish, they’ll be packing their body armour just in case.

Among the other top Irish contenders for the week are Faugheen in the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday and Bryan Cooper on Last Instalment in Friday’s showpiece Gold Cup.

But that’s just a snapshot of the world-class talent that will be wowing the crowd for the hotly-anticipated week ahead.

And while there’ll be plenty to keep racing fans busy, there’s just as much on offer for revellers who enjoy the carnival atmosphere as much as the track battles.

Paddy Power is offering odds of 6-4 that 245,000 tweed-clad troops will flock to Prestbury Park this week.

The cheeky bookie is also taking bets on how loud the world-famous Cheltenham roar will be, how many pints of Guinness revellers will guzzle their way through and what colour and designer the Best Dressed Lady will be kitted out in.